Google will use your mobile phone number for verification if you lose access to your account. Some people don’t want to provide that information to Google.

Do I have to give Google my phone number?

If you want to create a new Gmail account, Google may ask for a phone number verification. In the past, this was optional, but recently Google made it mandatory. If you don’t want Google to have it, you may not like sharing your phone number.

Is it safe to add a phone number to Google?

There you have it: adding a phone number reduces your account security to the lowest of your recovery email account, security questions, phone service, and (presumably) Google’s last-ditch customer service in case all other options fail.

Is it safe to add a phone number to Gmail?

Account takeovers, email hacking, and targeted phishing attacks have recently been on the news. Adding a phone number to your Google account can make it LESS secure. Reset the password and take control of other arrangements (e.g., financial statements, Twitter) that only require access to the primary email account.

Why does Google let me enter a phone number?

They do this to prevent robots from setting up hundreds or thousands of accounts to use for spam. If you’ve already prepared for Google to have access to all your conversations through Gmail, then having your mobile number seems pretty unimportant to me.

Google

Is it safe to give you your phone number?

Do not provide your phone number online. Unless you trust someone, don’t give them your number, even if you bought something from them. If you must share it, please do so privately (via email or direct message) and not on a public bulletin board.

Does Google ever verify your phone number?

Going to the provided link, Google states that it verifies users’ numbers from time to time for their security. “For your safety, we recheck from time to time to make sure your phone number is still yours. When we re-authenticate, you may receive text messages from Google or see outgoing text messages to Google.

Does Google sell your phone number?

Google will not sell your personal information, including your phone number, to anyone. For more information, visit privacy.google.com.

What is a good alternative to Gmail?

Best Gmail Alternatives Zoho Mail. mail.com. Outlook. Mail fence. ProtonMail.

How can I use Gmail without my phone number?

Stop using your number in Google Go to the Phone section of your Google account. Select Delete next to your number. Delete number. Go to the Recovery Phone section of your Google account and add your number again. To continue using your number in other Google services, go to those services and add it again.

What’s the worst thing someone could do with your phone number?

If someone steals your phone number, they become you. With your phone number, a hacker can hijack your accounts one by one by having a password reset sent to your phone. They can trick automated systems like your bank into thinking they are you when you call customer service.

Can you be hacked by giving your phone number?

That said, there are a few ways a hacker could use your phone number to gain additional access as part of a larger attack: “Phishing” for personal data. It is common for hackers to send fake text messages to their targets to obtain username and password information (this is called phishing).

Do I have to give my phone number to someone I met online?

Be careful when providing your home address, work address, personal phone number, or other identifying information. It would help if you were careful not to share this information on your social media sites or elsewhere online. You never know who would be looking for that information, looking for you.

Why would Google text me to verify my phone number?

Put it for verification. As the text states, Google will send that message to verify the number on the device. For your security, we check from time to time to ensure your phone number is still yours.

How do I prevent Google from verifying my phone number?

Turn off two-step verification. On your Android or tablet,n your device’s Settings app, Google. Manage your Google account. At the top, tap Security. Under “Sign in to Google,” tap 2-Step Verification. You may need to sign in. Tap Disable. Confirm by tapping Disable.

Why did my phone send a random text message?

Is the device defective? This can be the most common reason for sending random text messages. It’s that your phone’s software or hardware is out of order. You can send a text message to your friend on such devices, and they can also go to another one.

Is Google Spying on Users?

If you’re using an Android phone, Google can access your contacts, calendars, and any apps you may have downloaded. And if this isn’t enough to scare you, Google also stores short audio recordings of your voice, your YouTube browsing history, and any personalized ads.

Is Google safe?

At Google, we respect and protect your privacy with industry-leading security infrastructure, responsible data practices, and easy-to-use privacy tools that put you in control. Your privacy is protected throughout Google with built-in security designed to stop threats before they reach you automatically.

Is Google stealing your information?

But Chrome collects all those data fields and associates them with user identities. This is not complicated. The fact is, Chrome collects more data than any other browser, yet it is the only one that doesn’t seem to collect data that isn’t tied to user identities.

Author

I’m a full-time blogger who loves writing about personal finance, blogging, and technology. I've been a freelance writer for years, and now I'm making this my career. I have a degree in English with a focus on creative writing and fiction. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, going to movies, playing video games, writing, and listening to music. I'm passionate about writing, blogging, and all things online.